Projects This Week
I thought I’d quickly share my projects this week. I was of a mind to sit down with my apple slices (dessert) and stick my nose in a book for the rest of the evening, but realized it’s Monday night. One of my projects this week is to join in with Carol at Quilt Schmilt for her weekly To Do Tuesday link up, so this post tackles that task.
One of my ongoing projects lately has been getting settled in my new quilt room. I’ve gotten distracted by a few items I found while moving, such as the little mini in this post and this one. I will confess there are a few more in the works that popped up while I was shifting things around, but those are for future posts. I did, however, come across this photo. This is the first large quilt I ever made, a queen size quilt for our bed. I don’t recall the exact year it was finished, but it was early 90s. It was also the first quilt I took to a longarm quilter (not Connie). I remember being very nervous, wondering if she would tell me my quilt wasn’t constructed well (she didn’t).
I’m sad to say I no longer have the quilt, we used it for so long that it was pretty far gone by the time I replaced it. The quilting was pretty minimal, if I recall (and from what I can see in the photo). I’m not sure there is stitching in the ditch around each bear paw. There is stitching around each complete Bear’s Paw block, but not around each paw. The alternate blocks have a type of scalloped design in them, and the red border has a leaf design. Anyway, it was fun to find the photo, so I thought I’d share it with you.
Back to projects this week, by the time you are reading this post, I should be done with the 6-inch Ohio Star blocks. All in all, they’ve gone together quickly, but both Wilbs and I have the same feeling about them after making 24.
We are both ready to move on to the next stage of the Firm Foundation quilt. Well, maybe not Wilbs. He might just want to keep on nappin’!
Meanwhile, I finished up the last of my improv blocks.
And now I’m putting the top together and getting ready to start quilting.
Putting those blocks together and incorporating some of those small bits was fun and a bit of a puzzle. I’m already pondering thread colors. This will be my goal for this week, to at least start the quilting on this project.
Of course there are other projects in the works, but these are my projects this week. We’ll see if I stick with them, or get distracted!
Wendy
What I'm Working On
16 Comments
Eva
Well, this is when times goes by…. We have to or had to say good by to quilts, tablerunners or other things we did. But isn‘t that nice, that you found a foto? And it was good to sew this in these days of the 90th, good to make experience and develop to the quilter you now are. And you are so good!
The good thing is, this bear paw and ohio star and al this famous quilt blocks are still in use and it is good that we interpret them new. We have changes in our working areas, technology … so as well the world of quilting changes. But the basics are the same, so this is the good news.
And with the basic knowledge we are able to do the improve quilting. And you did soooo good. I love how it comes together.
The church quilt will be sooooo lovely. Sure you and Wilbs are tired of doing 24 times the same. This is why I love improve quilting.
Guess I am this time one of the first to comment and I think all the others will give big applaus to your super work! Love it
If someone reads this while commenting… have a very good week!!
Tracie
Your improv quilt is looking great, especially with all the tiny pieces and interesting angles. How large will it be? Will you hang it in your quilt studio?
Stitchin at Home
How nice to have a picture of your first big quilt, a great reminder of where your quilting journey has taken you all the way to the great improv piece you are working on now.
Vicki in MN
If this was your ‘first’ big quilt have you made more since? I think of you only doing smaller than bed size:) The improv is moving right along.
texasquiltgal
That first quilt is so sweet, and how wonderful you have a photo, if not the quilt. I get the intimidation factor on what the quilter might say but didn’t. Does Wilbs have an established spot in the new room? I don’t think I need to remind you to keep having fun – lol!
laura bruno lilly
Bear’s Paw as a first large bed quilt was challenging, no doubt. It seems appropriate for the times and your location, even. Mine was a log cabin in rusts & harvest colors (late 70s).
It’s interesting to see the ‘old way’ of dressing the bed with a quilt – treating it like a bedspread and folding it over the pillows. Plus, that bedside table looks way too small for a pile of bedtime reading books! HA! (for the record, our current bedside tables are older and also too small)
🙂
rl2b2017
Good morning, Wendy! Wow, that was an ambitious first quilt but I recall our first was a Dresden plate in queen-size for my sister. It’s still being used which is pretty cool for almost 40 years. I am looking forward to seeing your finished studio. It’s a lot of work reorganizing all of your stuff but so worth it, don’t you think? Your improv piece is really coming together nicely. It’s really fun. Happy Tuesday to you. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
The Joyful Quilter
Oh, what fun that improv piece is going to be, Wendy! I would have to unspool some of each color thread to test how it might look on the quilt. At first glance, I would say mustard, but choosing a lighter shade of teal may be the best option. You’ll figure out what works best!
Barbara J Stanbro
Your improv quilt is looking grreat! I love all that movement. It was fun seeing your first quilt. Yours is more complicated than my first. I still have it. We haven’t used it. It’s a smaller quilt…maybe twin size.
Quilting is in my Blood
You know I love your improv blocks. What a great quilt it’s going to be. I remember being very self conscious about what my first long-armer would think of my piecing. And even posting online, I would preface so many of my photos with some kind of statement about me “just being a newbie.” Thank goodness I got over that! How fun that you ran across that photo. And I love yours and Wilbs reaction to sewing all those Ohio Star blocks!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
What a fun photo to find while you were cleaning and organizing! I’m so glad you have a photo of that quilt, and knowing it was used and loved until it fell apart is pretty much the highest praise I can think of for a quilt. I like how the improv blocks are coming together and hope you have fun quilting!
aquilterstable
I’m loving your improv blocks. Enjoy working on your projects this week, whatever they might be.
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
It was fun to see your first quilt, Wendy! I’m not sure I’ve ever made a queen size, so kudos to you for jumping right in to that big project. The improv quilt is going to be amazing – have fun puzzling it together!
Helen
I feel like I can HEAR those improve blocks!
marissthequilter
What an impressive first quilt. And your improv quilt is very exciting.
The Morning Latte
Ah ha ha ha–did those stars wear you out there Wilbs? I’m not worn out by the 56 blocks I’m doing now but I’ve sure slowed down. They’re super-satisfying but I think making the same thing over and over is always going to have its downside. Your improvs are looking all kinds of fun! You’ve really been breaking in that new room well!